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It's been some time, but Mohamed Salah returned taking on the main part in recent days with a brace in Morocco that secured Egypt's place at the 2026 World Cup. The key player taking the limelight another time. The Merseyside club must have him to stay there.

Reasons for Variable Displays

There are several causes why inconsistent, unconvincing performances have been the common thread running through Liverpool's opening to their league defense, whether they produced a winning streak or, before the Red Devils' visit to Anfield on Sunday, a losing run. The turmoil from so many summer changes, the coach's quest for his best XI, Diogo Jota's loss; the winger has endured the effect of them all during his unusually quiet start to the season.

Sunday's Big Match

Sunday's showpiece occasion could deliver the spark for the origin of a record 16 strikes in 17 games for the club against Manchester United, who are making their 100th appearance to the stadium and have not succeeded at their fierce rivals for almost a decade. The attacker will present the manager with another surprise issue, though, should he stay caught in the disruption indefinitely.

Recent Performance

The team's manager must have seen the irony of the player's first goal against the opponent last Wednesday. Swept directly with the outside of his left foot into the near post, his eighth strike of the national team's qualification run originated from an almost identical position to his expensive error versus Chelsea prior to the national team pause.

If that attempt been converted shortly after the resumption at Stamford Bridge we would even now be eulogising Florian Wirtz's first superb pass in the league. Analyses into his decline and the team's infrequent losing streak might also have been avoided. Rather, Wirtz's search continues while the coach broods over a third consecutive defeat away, two caused by late goals and another the outcome of a disputed penalty. Small margins, as he reiterated on Friday, but they cannot hide underlying concerns.

Previous Campaign's Influence

Salah was crucial in propelling Liverpool towards a record-equalling 20th crown last season while doubt over his future lingered in the backdrop. We achieved almost the maximum out of Mo last term,” said the manager when his leading striker signed an extension in the spring. We have seen a noticeable decrease on an personal and collective level from then. The team, not the terms of a contract, are responsible.

Statistical Decrease

His production in terms of scores and setups is lower half on the same stage the previous term, from a total 8 in the first seven matches of 2024-25 to four (a pair of goals and two assists) this season. The count of attempts has fallen from 22 to twelve while efforts on goal have fallen from fifteen to five, contributing to a significant fall in shooting accuracy (not counting blocks) from 78.9% to 55.6%, data show.

A single trait that has stayed stable is his chance creation. With twelve opportunities made, versus fourteen at the comparable period of last campaign, his numbers stay among the best in Europe and up in the group of Lamine Yamal and Arda Güler, his younger counterparts by fifteen and thirteen years respectively.

Team Output

Indicators of team performance will concern Slot further. He had seventy-six contacts in the opposition box in the opening seven league games of last season. This season's tally is 39. These figures are reflective of the team's issues overall. Just United and Arsenal have tried a greater number of shots on goal than them this season, but Liverpool's percentage of shots from within the six-yard box is the lowest in the Premier League, their share from outside the area among the highest. The club's rate of accurate shots – 28.4 percent – is as well among the poorest in the league.

During the initial phase of last season we mainly found the net from an individual brilliance from one of our front three and in the second half it was more from a free-kick or corner,” Slot said. “Currently we have not seen as numerous acts of brilliance and we haven’t scored from set pieces. But we are nonetheless the side that from general play generates the most quality opportunities.”

New Signings

They are not hurting foes in the way Slot envisaged when Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké and the Swedish striker were brought on board in the offseason, although Liverpool remain the league's equal third-top goalscorers. A tie on the weekend would be enough for Slot to reach the century of points in fewer games than any manager in the club's past (46). Imagine what his attack will do when it does settle. The side remain a team of supreme individual quality, capable of starting and chasing any opponent for the championship, but synergy is absent. That cannot be blamed on the summer recruits only.

Personal and Collective Issues

Salah is not the only established member to suffer a drop-off, with Alexis Mac Allister working his way back to form and Ibrahima Konaté struggling. But he is at the center of the disruption that has lately engulfed Liverpool. That extends to a individual level, with Salah's sorrow over the loss of Jota evident on that heartfelt first game against Bournemouth. The impact of his loss can neither be measured nor ignored.

Strategic Shifts

Last season, he